Every once in a while, a touch of nostalgia and heartfelt romances are necessary for the audience, and stories that revolve around friendship, are the epitomes of portraying these themes. Friendships are relatable for everyone, regardless of age or nationality. They act as a bridge between the younger and the older generations and give them fresh perspectives of every walk of life. From eating together, to supporting each other in every phase of life, Kdramas have portrayed different wholesome moments in a friendship that touched the hearts of the audience. So, Let’s look at some of the Top 10 Korean Dramas based on Friendships:
1. Reply 1988
This slice-of-life drama was a part of the ‘Reply’ series and the story revolved around the lives of 5 childhood friends and their families who lived and grew up in the 1980s, in the same neighborhood. The portrayal of the friendship between the 5 kids was beautiful, and relatable for the audience. They depicted the different struggles like romance, career, friendship, dreams, etc. that an individual goes through at that age. Another feature of this drama was the narrative style of Deok Sun (one of the lead characters) and her husband from the future. It was also a fresh walk down the memory for the audiences that grew up in those times.
2. Welcome To Waikiki
This popular 2018 drama revolved around three friends, Kang Dong Goo, Cheon Joon Ki, and Bong Doo Sik, struggled in their respective lives and careers, and opened a guest house named ‘Waikiki’ to fund a film produced by them. This heartfelt comedy-drama eventually revealed more layers of friendships, heartbreaks, ambitions, and the different struggles of life. The drama gained worldwide popularity and has spanned 2 seasons with shooting numbers.
3. Itaewon Class
An acclaimed drama of 2020, this webtoon adaptation revolved around Park Sae Ro-Yi, an ex-con, and his friends, who sailed through unexpected changes in life like his father’s death, bullying, misunderstandings, and running a bar by themselves. Through thick and thin, they journey through the different obstacles that life throws at them and continued to learn and grow in moments of hardship. This drama had been nominated for various awards, including Baeksang Arts Awards, Seoul International Drama Awards, and more.
4. School 2017
This high school drama was a part of the ‘School’ series, and it focused on the lives of 18-year-olds who battle against the societal rules of rich and poor. The story revolved around a poor girl, Ra Eun Ho, an aspiring webtoon artist who dreamt of entering the Korean University, solely based on her merits rather than her family’s wealth. However, her dreams went down the loop when she was allegedly framed as Student X, an anonymous troublemaker. The drama revealed the true aspect of friendships and supporting each other, through thick and thin. This drama attracted a massive fanbase and was one of the highly acclaimed dramas of 2017.
5. Hospital Playlist
This drama revolved around 5 exceptional doctors and best friends in their forties, who have been together since their pre-med school and journeyed through different situations in life. It showcased the epitome of friendships and how they supported each other in every walk of life. They depicted the relatable and realistic hurdles in an adult’s life, including the breakups, the losses, and the divorces, and how there needs to be a line of respect and understanding in every group, which was one of the main highlights of this story.
6. Hello, My Twenties!
This drama was released in 2016 and revolved around the lives of 5 girls in their twenties, with contrasting personalities, who ended up living in the same house. Although they were at different stages in their respective lives, they continued to understand and support each other, through every rain and shine. The drama starred actors like Park Hye-Soo, Park Eun-Bin, and others, who did an exceptional job of portraying the reality of adulthood.
7. Rookie Cops
This drama revolved around the lives of the newly enrolled students of the Korean National Police University, who juggle through the challenges and failures of life. This drama portrayed a very healthy friendship between the young adults who support and understand each other's problems and perspectives. Together they strive hard to achieve their goals while maintaining the relationships around them.
8. Dream High
Another popular high school drama, the story of Dream High, revolved around 6 aspiring students who joined the Kirin High School of Art, with dreams of making their name in the Korean music industry. All six of them learned and understood each other's strengths and weaknesses and developed a bond of friendship that sailed through every obstacle that life threw at them. This drama spanned 2 seasons and would be a great add-on to the weekend recommendations.
9. Dear, My Friends
This award-winning drama tried to bridge the gap between the older and the younger generations through its lighthearted and realistic portrayal of friends and families. The story later portrayed the journey of the lead character, an adult who was dragged to her mother's reunion with her aged friends. Gradually, both generations try to understand each other in their own unique ways. The friendship portrayed between the older generation and a millennial girl made this drama worth a watch!
10. Sassy, Go Go
This high school drama showcased the story of young individuals who were part of an unpopular dance club and a competition that took place between them, and the elites of the school. The drama revealed different layers of love and friendships and depicted the reality of the harsh and competitive educational environment in today's world.